[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Nov 29 - Dec 9, 2009

[Ron Baalke]

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

SPIRIT UPDATE:  Trouble with Right-Rear Wheel - sols 2100-2110, 
Nov.  29 - Dec. 9, 2009:

Spirit remains embedded in the location called "Troy" on the west side
of Home Plate.

Diagnostic tests from Sol 2109 (Dec. 8, 2009) on Spirit's right-rear
wheel indicate a troubled wheel. The right-rear wheel rotor resistance
tests continue to show very elevated resistance. No motion of the
right-rear wheel occurred during a backward commanded motion test. The
rotor resistances on all the other operating wheels are nominal.

The plan ahead includes more rotor resistance tests, application of
higher voltage to the right-rear wheel to see if any movement will
occur, and a check of the right-front wheel to confirm its status and to
see if it may offer insight into the right-rear wheel's condition.

As of Sol 2110 (Dec. 9, 2009), Spirit's solar-array energy production is
298 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.517 and a dust
factor of 0.563. Total odometry is 7,730.00 meters (4.80 miles).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:  Another Side of 'Marquette' - sols 2080-2090,
Nov. 29 - Dec. 10, 2009:

Opportunity has been investigating a rock known as "Marquette Island."

On Sol 2086 (Dec. 6, 2009), the rover backed away and then drove about 5
meters (16 feet) around Marquette Island to image other parts of the
rock. On Sol 2089 (Dec. 9, 2009), Opportunity performed a 5-meter
(16-foot) approach to the rock to position the rover for an in-situ
(contact) study of a different part of the rock than it had touched
earlier. On the next sol, the robotic arm (instrument deployment device,
or IDD) collected a mosaic of images by the microscopic imager (MI) and
then placed the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) on a new
location on the rock for a long integration.

The elevation mirror shroud of the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer (Mini-TES) is being opened when appropriate with the
expectation of eventual dust cleaning. No dust cleaning of the Mini-TES
mirror has been noted yet.

As of Sol 2090 (Dec. 10, 2009), Opportunity's solar-array energy
production is 359 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.498
and a dust factor of 0.529. Total odometry is 18,917.41 meters (11.75
miles).